The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-26
McNEALLY RELEASED.
His Brother Reaches Halifax and
Has Some Difficulty,
Resulting in the Surrender Of the City
Authorities
Who Set the Young Bank Thief at
Liberty.
President GoOdaIl and Treasurer Kelly
Authorize the Action.
Harry McNeally Says the Bonds Will
be Returned.

Harry MCNtdily OayS tnt D0naS VIII
be Returned.
HALIFAX, Dec 25.-F. C. Men eally, the Saco
bank embezzler was released tonight. His
brother Harry, bearieg letters from the offic-
ials of the Saco and Biddeford SayingsInsti-
tuition appeared this afternoon and inquired
| why his brother was prisoner. The mar
shall stated that he was arrested on the au-
| thority of proclamation offering reward
for his arrest. Harry answered that there
was no charge against the prisoner. The
marshal said he had no such information
and did not know any reason why the pris-
oner should be discharged. Harry then pro-
duced letter signed by M. II. Kelly, treas
urer of the Saco and Biddeford Savings In
stitution. 1t set forth that the bearer was
Harry A. McNeally, man in whom the
writer had the utmost confidence. and
prayed the officers holding his brother to
hand the latter over to his charge, as the
bank believed Franks release would be the
only means of obtaining the stolen bonds
Harry refused to give up the letter. Counsel
for the marshal doubted whether Frank
could be liberated on the strength of the let
ter and said that, in any case, he could not
release him till Harry had been identified.
The letter was read and re-read. Finally
it got into the hands Of the lawyer and De-
tective Power, who kept it and expressed
their intention to keep it despite thelprotesta
tion of Harry, who claimed it has been torn
from his grasp. The lawyer said he had not
used force, and anyway the letter should be
delivered to the authorities here.
Harry then left to get Consul Phelan, and
the marshal left TO consult the city stipendi-
ary. Harry soon returned with the consul
and Mayor O'Mullin. The consul demanded
to know who the person was who had fOrci-
bly, dispossessed Harry McNeally of his prop
erty. Harry, pointing to Mr.. Smith said he
was the man. Smith denied the charge.
The consul then asked who had the letter,
and Smith replied he hadn't it and didn't
know where it was The consul and mayor
then decided to await the arrival of the mar
shal and stipendiary. They came presently
and Mr.. Phelan outlined the situation. Har-
ry produced another letter from President
Goodall. of the Saco and Biddeford Savings
Institution. dated Friday night, which read
as follows:
To Who0s St .1fdy Concern:
Since the embezzlement by f. c.. McNeally of
the funds of this institution in August last, the
officers OF the institution have known no other
person who has SO severely, and disinterestedly
labered for the return of the bonds and the re-
x McSsa WI VINO oNasp ps hafSs again With
the same ends in view and bearing earnest
hopes and wishes for his success.
StipendiaryMolten characterized the letter
as encouraging embezzlement, and being
shown a copy of Kelly's letter, made a SINH
lar comment. The consul and Harry having
told their stories called on Mr.. Smith, who
claimed that the treasRrer's letter was hand
ed him in an ordinary manner. After con-
sultation Detective Power produced sthe
letter and the stipendiary, taking possession
ofiit for safe keeping, ordered the prisoner to
remainwhere he was till tomorrow, when the
question of releasing the embezzler on Treas
urer Kelly's order would be discussed.
Tonigh3 the city marshal and Detective
Power handed Frank over to Harry, upon
the authority of the letter from Treasurer
Kelly. Harry said tonight that the Saco
bank would not lose dollar through his
brothers embeZzlement. Everything is ar
ranged. How this is to be accomplished he
would not state but assued the reporter such
would be the case.
How Medically Spent Saturday.
HALIFAX, N. S., Dec. A.-Frank MeNeal-
ly is still an apparently contented occupant
of City Marshal Cotter's Office in the city
building, where he sleeps soundly and eats
quite heartily, receiving meals regularly
from the Halifax Hotel. He am used himself
today reading newspapers and looking
through a window which overlooks the
country market square. His last tele-
gram, the only one received by him today
came this evening from his brother, dated
st. John, stating the latter would arrive in,
Halifx at noon tomorrow. The public mind
is convinced that the bank authorities now
have their clutches on all or most of the stol-
en- bonds and only send down Harry Nc
Neatly to carry out some arrangement under
which it was agreed the prisoner should not
be prosecuted. The Halifax police have 90
far been unable to obtain any direct instruc-
tions from the bank as to what shall be done
with McNeally. City Marshal Co tier has
telegraphed to them that the prisoner was
arrested and is held under the authority of
Treasurer Kelly's circular offering the re-
ward. and asking for instructions. The on
ly answer to this is that the bank officials
are advised that the prisoner cannot be ex-
tradited for embezzlement, but that Harry
McNeally is on his way here, and it is h oped
that his mission will do good. In answer to
a message asking for directions, the tate
attorney at Augusta telegraphed to Marshal
Cotter that he has. no definite information,
and says the local authorities at Saco may
give him what is required. There is little
difference of opinion here on the question
whether the prisoners extradition can be
secured, the case being regarded as similar to
the colony Of bank defaulters and embezzlers
at large in the upper provinces, who cannot
be taken across the line.
1t is considered very likely that after his
brother arrives the prisoner will demand his
release. In that event the police will con-
suit the city stipendiary on what course to
pursue. and unless the bank asks for Nc
Neally's discharge, or signifies its intention
not to prosecute, it is not likely he will Sc
cure his liberty without struggle
When interviewed today the prisoner
said Remember, l am arrested without a
warrant know they have no authority to
tain my freedom today If l chose but l pre-
fer to await the arrival of my brother. who
will be here tomorrow. when this thing win
be settled once and forever. i broke no lock
in the bank; used no skeleton key; the
whole Of the security and money was tenn
porarily in my charge; therefore l am only
guilty of breach of trust. That is not an
extraditable offence, and not being extradit-
able, the police have neither the authority
nor the right to hold me here for one hour.
They had no right to arrest me; they were
not asked to do So"
Medically then talked about his European
trip, and told how he enjoyed himself in
London. He made many pleasant acquaint-
ances abroad, including several army ofic-
ers and officers of the army medical staff in
England, Gibraltar and Egypt. While at
Port Said, on the SueZ Canal he became
friendly with three officers of her majesty's
ironclad Dreadnaught. Subsequently De-
tective Powers attempted to pump him, but